Glasses vs. contacts: Which is safer for eyes. In its early days, the variant caused an alarming spike in COVID-19 cases in South Africathey went from 300 a day in mid-November 2021 to 3,000 a day at the end of that month. Its probably anothersinus infection. A sinus infection (sinusitis) occurs when the lining of your sinuses becomes inflamed. Read our. A commuter masks up for a bus ride in Liverpool, England. You cant, unfortunatelybecause the symptoms are so similar, you should be tested for COVID-19. Doctors treat viral and bacterial sinus infectionsverydifferently. Two recent lab studies, which haven't been peer-reviewed, suggested that Omicron could be less effective at attacking lung cells compared with prior variants. Therefore, preventing a sinus infection often means trying to avoid the illnesses that usually precede it. And a small study from Norway found that, among . You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our. It also details treatment options for both, why a proper diagnosis is important, and when to see your healthcare provider. You have a fever (over 100.4 degrees) that persists beyond a few days. This all depends on the severity of the virus. ), "The risk is not zero," says Xu's colleague Davis, speaking of omicron. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. While sinus infections (also known as sinusitis) share many symptoms with the common cold and can be a complication of it, there are some key differences. Click for More Info about Dr. Rogers and how we can help out! A sinus infection occurs when viruses or bacteria cause inflammation and fluid buildup inside your sinuses. } Omicron or Respiratory Infection Symptoms? | Eyewitness News - PAhomepage "It's not like a little tickle in the throat. A study published online on Jan. 2 provides some of the first compelling evidence from the U.S. that the chance of ending up in the hospital is lower with omicron compared with the delta variant. Do you have a sinus infection or COVID-19? - Ohio State University If a person did end up in the hospital, the person's risk of being admitted to the ICU or being put on a ventilator also decreased substantially at the end of December compared with during the delta surge. Take an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen to help relieve the swelling of your sinuses. If you have COVID-19, you may also experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, body aches, and loss of taste or smell. A runny nose and sneezing, congestion, and sore throat are a few symptoms that can pop up if you have . And doctors are finding many of these cases tend to look like an ordinary upper respiratory infection. If you've been exposed to Omicron or think you have the virus, Eat This, Not That! } Omicron BA.5 variant | COVID-19 | UC Davis Health Sore throats were often coupled with sinus congestion and headache, he added, followed by a cough a day or so later. These include: The best way to treat COVID-19 depends on how sick a person is. Adults have sinuses behind their cheeks, nose, and forehead. Youre experiencing changes in vision or mental function. This may show up almost like non specific concussion symptoms with fatigue, mental fatigue, eye fatigue, non specific dizziness, feeling dizzy in wide open places, or feeling dizzy in busy indoor areas. "Omicron can present in a myriad of different ways," he says. Sinuses are the hollow spaces in the bones of your face that are usually filled with air. Physician, Associate Professor ", How to Reduce Inflammation in the Body Fast, If you suspect you have any of the symptoms mentioned here, get tested ASAP. They might also choose delayed prescribing, where they prescribe an antibiotic for you but suggest that you wait a few days before taking it to see if the infection clears up on its own. Learn some practical steps you can take to ease your symptoms. Many locations offer drive-thru COVID-19 tests, or you can buy a rapid test from your local pharmacy, which gives you results in about 15 minutes. If you get a COVID-19 test, remember to mask up and stay away from others until you get your test results. It is often patients who are susceptible to sinus infections that get them such as those patients who have gotten them before or patients who had ear infections as a child. Endoscopic Sinus Surgery: The Procedure and Recovery Process. They are highly contagious, with younger children, seniors, those with respiratory conditions, and those with compromised immunity more prone. The best way to protect yourself from COVID is to get vaccinated and practice protective measures like wearing a face mask, social distancing, and washing your hands. Because symptoms can overlap, I recommend discussing your condition with your physician and/or getting tested if you think youve got COVID-19. With information suggesting that symptoms are mild, hospitalizations are low despite some of the highest rates of infection to date, and reports that it isn't infecting the lungs as much as other strains it's no surprise that the general feeling with this variant is more relaxed than with others. COVID-19 is also causing loss of smell in most-if-not-all patients for a short time (some patients have been slow to recover). Omicron seems to cause LESS loss of smell due to reduced affinity for the nerve endings! Sinus infections and COVID are not caused by the same things. Typical signs of the common cold include: If the symptoms last longer than 10 days, its likely your cold has progressed to a complication or another illness is causing them. To help alleviate your symptoms, stock up on nonprescription pain relievers, fever reducers, decongestants and cough drops. Is your cold really a sinus infection? A viral sinus infection will usually begin to improve after five to seven days. Your doctor might take a watchful waiting approach to see if your immune system can fight the infection. These droplets can land in the mouth or nose of someone nearby or be inhaled. "We didn't need to do any complicated statistics to see the difference.". } ); } else { If you have respiratory symptoms, you might fear that you have COVID. If youre having symptoms, heres when you should call a doctor: Distinguishing between the common cold and sinus infections can be challenging for patients and healthcare providers. With winter underway and cases of Omicron surging nationwide, you may be wondering if that runny nose or aching throat is a dreaded case of COVID-19 or merely a symptom of the common cold. Ways that you can deal with a mild COVID infection at home include: If you are hospitalized with COVID, you might be given: There are certain things you can do to prevent sinus infections and protect yourself from the COVID-19 virus. Whats the main difference between sinus infection and COVID-19? If they have mild to moderate illness and can stay home, but they have certain medical comorbidities, an antiviral treatment may be offered. Omicron Symptoms: Here's What to Know | Time They can run tests to determine whether or not you have COVID, a sinus infection, or another condition. Most people were sick 6-9 days. According to the CDC, the Omicron variant spreads more easily than the original SARS-CoV-2 virus and the Delta variant. These Are the 3 Main Symptoms of the Omicron Variant - Yahoo News You may be a good candidate for allergy shots, which can lessen the way your body reacts to allergens over time. While it's welcome news that omicron is easier on the lungs, ProHEALTH's Griffin says it's not that way for some of his patients. South Africa's largest health insurer listed nasal congestion, sore or scratchy throat, dry cough and lower back pain as common Omicron symptoms. Drink eight 8-ounce glasses of fluid per day. A sinus infection, or sinusitis, occurs when your nasal passages get infected. A bacterial sinus infection will last seven to 10 days or longer and may get worse after a week. The overlap in symptoms between COVID-19 and sinus infections (sinusitis) make it difficult to tell the two apart. Now amidst the Omicron-wave of infections hitting vaccinated and unvaccinated alike, it is clear in our practice we are seeing a lot of exacerbations of sinus infections. OMICRON VARIANT BA.2: These started popping up late December 21. Learn more about what yellow, green, brown, black, and red. Sometimes rinsing out your sinuses can help. doi:10.1177/0194599815572097. Symptoms like bad breath, yellow or green mucus, fever and headache are not reliable signs of a bacterial infection, he says. Loss of smell was also relatively rare among Omicron patients. In general, people are contagious for two to three days before COVID-19 symptoms start. Typically, youll have facial pain/pressure, headaches, nasal drainage and congestion, decreased or loss of sense of smell, tooth pain and sore throat. xhr.send(payload); Your source for health, wellness, innovation and discovery news from the experts at Ohio State. Health spoke with Julia Walker, a registered nurse with Paloma Health who explained symptoms to watch out for. We've all experienced a cold before and it is no fun. Yellow, Green, Brown, and More: What Does the Color of My Snot Mean? However, if you develop severe illness, you may need to receive medical care in the hospital. And doctors are finding a key difference among their patients who are ending up in the ER or being admitted: Many are neither struggling to breathe nor dealing with perilously low oxygen levels. Then check in with your doctor for a prescription and let him or her know if your condition worsens. U.S. Food & Drug Administration. Children's Wisconsin. "If we have a patient who's younger, if we have a patient who's vaccinated, if we have a patient who recently recovered from delta, we're tending to see very mild disease with omicron," says Griffin. EatThis.com is part of the AllRecipes Food Group. Are you contagious before COVID-19 symptoms appear? "Cough is still part of the symptoms," Moreno said. They need to sleep. Most sinus infections are viral. Congestion, headache, fever, sore throat, and cough are some examples of symptoms that the two share. Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. Treatments your healthcare provider might recommend if you are sick. The Zoe study uses a smartphone app to log how hundreds of thousands of people are feeling every day across the UK. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. Use a saline mist spray to hydrate nasal passages. Another factor to look at is how long you've been sick. Get health and wellness tips and information from UNC Health experts once a month! Since sinus infections are caused by viruses, antibiotics dont generally help. However, the CDC notes this list is not exhaustive, and people might experience different symptoms or combinations of symptoms . Your doctor might check your mucus or do an imaging test to confirm the diagnosis. Youll also want to wash your hair before bed after being outside and keep your windows closed when pollen counts are high. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They usually resolve within seven to 10 days, with most feeling improvement after a couple days. Colds are more common than sinus infections and symptoms tend to improve quicker. Those symptoms include a runny nose or sniffles, a headache or body aches,. If youre not vaccinated for COVID-19 and the flu, do so right away to reduce your chances of getting sick and spreading these infections to others. Another difference is the timeline. However patients with a history of relapsing sinus infections may have more difficult bacteria such as Staphylococcus or very tricky non typical respiratory bacteria. Stay home, rest and drink lots of fluids. The treatments for a sinus infection and COVID are very different. Almost as soon as Omicron started spreading, doctors noticed slight differences in their patients' symptoms relative to prior variants. diarrhea. COVID-19 is most contagious in the 48 hours before symptoms start and the first five days of symptoms. Omicron and its Subvariants: A Guide to What We Know Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Another difference doctors are noticing: Loss of smell and taste considered a telltale sign of COVID-19 is not nearly as common with omicron infections. Research published in April 2022 in The Lancet also found that . You dont necessarily have to see your doctor for your allergies. Theres a powerful story behind every headline at Ohio State Health & Discovery. Sore or Scratchy Throat May Be Early Sign of Omicron: Doctors This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Runny noses have been more common with COVID infections with the newer strains. An Ohio State expert explains what to expect. However, if your doctor thinks your sinus infection is bacteria-related, they may prescribe an antibiotic. Both conditions can cause nasal inflammation, along with related symptoms, such as congestion and stuffy nose. You can protect yourself from COVID-19 by washing your hands . 6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e, RELATED: How to Reduce Inflammation in the Body Fast. Continue taking allergy meds, if you did so previously. As with previous variants, the vast majority of people infected with omicron have a mix of symptoms that resolve relatively quickly and don't require hospital care. Another factor in appropriate treatment is a person's risk factors for severe disease. So how are respiratory diseases like this diagnosed? Sinus infection (sinusitis). The symptoms of sinus infection tend to come on . For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page. Sure Signs You Have an Omicron Infection - MSN If this persists, smell training therapy can help, though sometimes (rarely) this loss is permanent. This type of reaction is caused by a negative response to a substance. But as with any variant of SARS-CoV-2, your absolute risk depends on many factors, including whether you're vaccinated and boosted, your age, your overall health and your economic situation. Do You Have COVID-19 or a Sinus Infection? | UNC Health Talk People have reported symptoms that vary, but are similar to signs of a common cold or flu. How can you tell whether your infection is viral or bacterial based on your symptoms? For example, if you have a sinus infection that is caused by allergies, your doctor may prescribe an allergy medicine. Fatigue. How to know if those are Omicron COVID symptoms, or just a common cold Allergies and sinus infections can have similar symptoms. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. xhr.open('POST', 'https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', true); 2. Hearing Aids Better For Dementia Than Pills. Ohio State Wexner Medical Center. "Many people are still going to be admitted to the ICU, and some people are still going to need to have mechanical ventilation.". Omicron Infection Timeline: Exposure to Immunity - Health As with sinus infections, symptom management as your body develops immunity and fights off the infection is central to care. There was a strong tendency toward SEVERE SORE THROAT and even GI upset moreso. The trapped mucus can allow bacteria to grow, which leads to an infection, Cooling said. A sinus infection occurs when the fluid builds up in the air-filled pockets in the face (sinuses) and encourages the growth of germs. Yellow mucus. 1 Signs of Omicron iStock Walker says, "Omicron symptoms tend to be more concentrated on the upper respiratory tract. Typically, a sinus infection clears up within 2 to 3 weeks. Ohio State's Comprehensive Cancer Center James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, Find our most recent COVID-19 articles here, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, What its like to get an X-ray, and how to prepare, Cardiologist changing the way we care for womens cardiovascular health, Five signs of heart disease that show up in the bedroom. For example, make sure you wash your hands often and try not to touch your face, nose, or eyes during cold/flu season. "Just like previous variants, omicron is hospitalizing people and it is killing people.". For example, shortness of breath and difficulty breathing are more likely with COVID-19, while facial pain is more specific to a sinus infection. "The majority of patients that are coming in are coming in for sinus pressure, congestion, just kind of upper respiratory infections or some even think they have a sinus infection."Dufrene said . Aside from what causes them, this includes another battery of more unique symptoms. The main difference between COVID and a sinus infection is what causes them. And this reflects what doctors across the country are now seeing firsthand with their patients. So some of this lower risk could be because of vaccination, but the data altogether suggests that there is a reduced risk for hospitalization with the omicron variant compared with the delta variant. One of the key differences is the itchiness of your eyes and skin that can occur with allergies, as well as the thick, yellow or green nasal discharge thats notable with sinusitis. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. Omicron vs. Allergies: How to Tell the Difference - Health It's inflammation or swelling of your sinuses. Basically, when your immune system is already fighting off a disease, its easier for other pathogens to infect. Pain at the top of the head is often found with occult sphenoid sinusitis, which can cause a serious infection of the eyes and even meningitis. For example, the virus that causes the common cold attacks the lining of your sinuses and causes them to swell up. A sinus infection can take several days to improve, but sometimes youll need prescription medications until you start feeling better at all. For example, if you're over age 65, your risk of being hospitalized with COVID-19 is still 5% with the omicron variant, which means 1 in 20 people infected in this age group will end up in the hospital. Itchy, Red Eyes? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. <Omicron makes up 95% of sequenced Covid cases in U.S. as infections hit Emily is a health communication consultant, writer, and editor at EVR Creative, specializing in public health research and health promotion. Allergies are also treated with antihistamines. With some of these key differences in mind, you may be able to figure out whether youre dealing with allergies or sinusitis and take the necessary steps to start feeling better.
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